BOTM 11/12: Kirkland Small Batch Bourbon

And now for something completely different......

This month's BOTM has been suggested to me a couple of times now, so I thought why not. I know there has been some talk of it here in a couple of different threads. From what I can gather, it's a Beam product made for Costco. Anyway, let's here your thoughts about Kirkland Small Batch Bourbon.

I haven't tried this one yet, so no comment from me this month. Bet y'all are glad about that.

Re: BOTM 11/12: Kirklnd Small Batch Bourbon

Opened the bottle(batch B-5183 if the # means anything), tasted it neat in a glen cairn. The nose has alot of alcohol and a surprising amount of wood for being a 7 year bourbon. On the palate it has a bit less heat than I expected from 103 proof has alot of wood flavor and a bit of sweet corn, the mouth feel is very thin and slightly oily with a very short finish. All in all it is not terrible, my wife thought more of it than I did. My intent in buying it was for a mixer which is what it will be used for.

Re: BOTM 11/12: Kirklnd Small Batch Bourbon

I better jump in here since I'm one of those who has been urging Joe to select Kirkland as BOTM.

First I'd like to point out that, at least in Illinois, one need not be a member of Costco to purchase liquor there. Tell the door-person you're just buying booze and you'll be let in. At the register be ready to pay in cash, and maybe wait for a supervisor approval (Costco only takes its own AmEx credit cards).

Kirkland Small Batch Bourbon is 103-proof and 7-y-o and sells for $20 a liter. A Costco clerk told me it was made by Woodford, and the bottle is a hybrid of WR and KC and clearly aimed at buyers of those brands. But the closed SB thread "Costco Bourbon?" details the tracking down of the Kirkland brand's COLA registry that shows it is a Beam product. (I found this very interesting as I hadn't yet learned about the COLA registry.)

There are also quite a few tasting notes on that long "Costco Bourbon?" thread, many of which I agree with. I found my bottle of Kirkland to be quite good. Color a little lighter than KC, perhaps a bit more brown/less gold--at least in Costco light. Nose was agreeable, but mild--maybe subtle is a better word choice. Good legs and a full mouth. I'm partial to wheaters, but this had a nice, spicy rye flavor--with a bit of a bite--that I enjoyed. Finish was pleasant and lingered. It's not as complex or sophisticated as a Beam small batch bourbon, but I think it's quite a bit better than the JBW and JBB of my most recent memories. If other batches match what's in my bottle, I'd say it's an excellent value at $20 a liter.

If you want to stock up, Costco also has good prices on the other bourbons it carries. if memory serves, that's usually Kirkland Small Batch, Jim Beam White, Knob Creek, Woodford Reserve, Maker's Mark (& 46), and Buffalo Trace.

Re: BOTM 11/12: Kirklnd Small Batch Bourbon

Originally Posted by Chuckles

First I'd like to point out that, at least in Illinois, one need not be a member of Costco to purchase liquor there. Tell the door-person you're just buying booze and you'll be let in. At the register be ready to pay in cash, and maybe wait for a supervisor approval (Costco only takes its own AmEx credit cards).

I am a Costco member but it is good to know, at least in Illinois, you don't have to be. Nice notes on this bourbon too Charlie...good enough for me to continue to pass on it .